The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2781704) Private Paul Large, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berell, the story for this day was on (2781704) Private Paul Large, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam War.

2781704 Private Paul Andrew Large 6th Battalion RAR
KIA 18 August 1966
Photograph: CUN/66/0509/VN

Story delivered 18 August 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Private Paul Andrew Large, of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on the 47th anniversary of his death at the battle of Long Tan.

Paul Large was born on 6 June 1945 in Wellington, New South Wales. As a child he moved to Coolah with his family. The local creek was a central focus of "Largie"'s childhood, where he, his mates and his black dog, Monty, would spend days swimming and catching yabbies. As he grew up he played for the local football team and became a good shot with a rifle.

Paul Large was conscripted into the army when his number came up in the National Service Scheme birthday ballot in 1965. He was posted to the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment in Brisbane for a period of intensive training. His mate Lawrie recalled how the first thing Paul told him after training was that his fellow recruits couldn't shoot well. "After their first rifle range drill, he said he couldn't wait for his turn with the rifle to 'show 'em how'."

But they pulled themselves together, and Paul reported to his parents:
The CO of Canungra announced on Friday night that Delta Company was the best company, and 12 Platoon the best platoon, that had been through since World War II. It might not seem like much to you, but, believe me, it is an achievement that any company would be proud to have. We will have a reputation to live up to, but after working with all the blokes out there, we are all sure we can live up to it.

6RAR was deployed to Vietnam between the 31st of May and the 9th of June. Paul left Australia on the 6th of June 1966: his 21st birthday. 6RAR was based at Nui Dat in the Phouc Tuy province of South Vietnam and conducted cordon and search operations in the surrounding villages against the Viet Cong.

On 18 August 1966, just ten weeks after Paul Large arrived in Vietnam, D Company were in an isolated position in a rubber plantation near Long Tan when a Vietnamese force many times the size of the 108-strong company repeatedly attacked their position. The determined defence of D Company, helped by ammunition resupply by air from the RAAF, artillery assistance and, finally, reinforcement by another rifle company travelling in APCs, held them off for three hours.

The Battle of Long Tan was the most costly single engagement for Australians in the Vietnam War. Eighteen Australians lost their lives, including Private Paul Large. His body was returned to Australia and buried in his hometown of Coolah, NSW. He was 21 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along around 500 others from the Vietnam War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Paul Andrew Large, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.